Trim for hose faucet

ABSTRACT

A trim unit for a hose faucet includes a base unit which attached to the wall of a building and surrounds the water pipe to which the faucet is attached. A trim ring then attaches to the base unit. In order to reduce air infiltration and freezing of the pipe during the winter, an insulated cover is adapted to attach to the trim unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hose faucets attach to pipes which run through the side walls of buildings. If the wall is covered in siding, there is generally trim that surrounds the faucet. This is particularly the case with respect to vinyl siding. There are various types of trim units that are designed to trim out a hose faucet. Two such products are disclosed in Vagedes U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,619 and Schiedigger U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,431. These units generally have a base piece that snaps around the pipe between the house wall and the faucet. Siding is applied against the trim unit and an outer ring is attached to the base unit to complete the wall.

There is always some clearance between the pipe and the wall. This can present a problem during the winter time. Cold air can enter through this clearance and can cause the pipe to freeze and, possibly, rupture. Also, simply cold transferring through the faucet can present problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hose faucet trim unit which reduces air infiltration and provides insulation for the hose faucet. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hose faucet trim unit which incorporates an insulated cover that snaps onto the trim unit and covers the faucet and thus the hole through the house wall. This reduces air infiltration and decreases the likelihood of any pipes freezing. The object and advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated in light of the following detailed descriptions and drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention without a cover.

FIG. 2. is a cross sectional view taken at lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear side perspective view for a trim ring for use in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the base portion of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cover for use in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an assembled unit.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a trim unit 10 used to surround a faucet 12 on a building wall 13 which is covered with siding 14. The trim unit includes a base 16, a trim ring 18 and an insulating cover 20. The base unit 16 as shown includes two mirror image sections 22 and 24. These have mirror image mating edges 26 and 28 which, when assembled, define a hole 30 which is designed to provide for passage of a pipe 31. The two bases 22 and 24 are assembled to form the combined base 16 which then has a back wall 36 which defines hole 30 and a wall 38. Extending from the base of wall 38 is a peripheral nail flange 40 which extends around the entire base unit 16.

Wall 38 includes upper and lower sections 41and 43 and two side sections 42 and 44. The side sections 42 and 44 include slots 46 which are adapted to allow the trim ring 18 to snap onto the base 16, as explained hereinafter. The side sections 42 and 44 further include notched portions 48 which are again designed to mate with enlarged portions 49 of the trim ring 18.

The trim ring 18 includes a continuous inner wall 50 adapted to fit within peripheral wall 38 and a flange member 52 which extends at an approximately 90° angle from wall 50 and, again, extends around the entire periphery of trim ring 18. The flange member 52 is adapted to conceal siding edges 51 that abut against the trim unit 10, as is explained hereinafter.

Wall 50 again has upper and lower sections 53 and 55, and two side sections 54 and 56. The two side sections each include raised portions 58 which are adapted to rest in notches 46 of the base unit 16 to attach the trim ring onto the base unit 16. The trim ring 18 further includes enlarged portion 49 in side sections 54 and 56 which allows for notches 62 in the edge portion 63 of side sections 54 and 56. The notches 62 provide for attachment of the cover 20 as explained hereinafter.

The trim ring 18 further includes four outer corner walls 64 which provide an area 66 between the corner walls 64 and the wall 50 and is designed to receive wall 38.

Cover 20 includes an inner surface 66 and an outer surface 68. The inner surface 66 is covered with a layer of foam insulation 74. The outer surface includes a base portion 76 which is adapted to mate with wall 50. Innermost edge 70 of cover 20 has two prongs 80 which are adapted to be received within notches 62 of trim ring 18. A series of stops 82 on the outer surface 68 are adapted to engage an outer edge 84 of trim ring 18.

The trim unit 10 of the present invention is used as shown in FIG. 7 by combining the left and right bases 22 and 24 of base unit 16 around the faucet 12 with the pipe 31 passing through the hole 30 formed in the base 16. Base 16 is then fixed to wall 13 with nails (not shown) which extend through the nail flange. Siding 14 is than applied to the wall 13 butted up closely against wall 38. The trim ring 18 is snapped over the base 16 with the protrusions 58 mating with the slots 46 in side walls 42 and 44. The flange of the trim ring will conceal any cut edges of the siding.

This completes the application of the trim. In the winter time, the cover 20 is simply snapped onto the trim ring 18 with the prongs 80 fitting into the notches 62 portion of the trim ring 18, holding it in position. As the lower portion 76 mates with the wall 50 of the trim ring 18, it reduces air infiltration around the faucet. Further, the insulation 74 in the interior surface of the cover further prevents heat loss.

Alternately, if the trim ring is attached to the exterior surface of the base unit, the cover would attach to the inner surface of the base unit as opposed to the trim ring. Further, cover 20 could attach to the faucet with a spring or the like, but would still mate with the opening in the trim unit.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8 wherein a cover is designed to mate with the exterior edge of the trim ring 18 and includes prong portions which simply snap fit over the edge of the trim ring and cover the faucet 12 and the exterior of the trim ring. Likewise, it provides the same benefits as the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

This has been a description of the present invention along with the preferred method of practicing the present invention. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims, wherein we claim: 

1. A trim unit for a hose faucet comprising a base and a ring; said base having a nailing flange and a back wall and a first wall extending up from said base and said back wall defining a hole to permit passage of a water pipe; said ring adapted to snap onto said first wall; a cover adapted to mate with to said trim unit and cover said back wall; said cover having an inner area which provides clearance for a hose faucet.
 2. The trim unit claimed in claim 1 wherein said ring fits within said first wall and wherein said cover snaps onto said ring.
 3. The trim unit claimed in claim 2 wherein said cover snaps onto an interior surface of said ring.
 4. The trim unit claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover attaches to an exterior edge of said ring.
 5. The trim unit claimed in claim 1 wherein said ring fits over said first wall and said cover attaches to said first wall.
 6. A trim unit attached to a wall and covering a hose faucet attached to a water pipe extending through a wall of said building, said trim unit comprising a base unit and a ring, said base having a nailing flange and being affixed to said building wall and defining a hole, said pipe extending through said hole, said faucet attached to said pipe and said base unit having a first wall surrounding said faucet and said pipe; a ring attached to said wall of said base unit; an insulating cover attached to said trim unit.
 7. The trim unit claimed in claim 6 wherein said cover attaches to an inside surface of said trim ring.
 8. The trim unit claimed in claim 6 wherein said cover is attached to an exterior edge of said trim ring.
 9. The trim unit claimed in claim 6 wherein said cover attaches to said first wall of said base unit. 